The Department of Justice said Tuesday that President Obama will asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on his controversial immigration executive actions that would allow as many as 5 million illegal immigrants to remained in the United States.
On Monday, a federal appeals court based in New Orleans enforced a block on Obama’s executive actions on immigration, which have been on hold for months. The president will now turn to the Supreme Court to appeal the ruling, probably representing Obama’s final chance to move forward with the executive actions.
"The Department of Justice remains committed to taking steps that will resolve the immigration litigation as quickly as possible in order to allow DHS to bring greater accountability to our immigration system by prioritizing the removal of the worst offenders, not people who have long ties to the United States and who are raising American children," Justice Department spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said Tuesday, according to the New York Times.
"The department disagrees with the 5th Circuit’s adverse ruling and intends to seek further review from the Supreme Court of the United States."
If the Supreme Court justices decide to take up the case, a ruling could come as early as next summer.
In a 2-1 decision Monday, the 5th Circuit court concluded that Obama and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson did not have the legal authority to take the actions on immigration. It maintained a block on the executive actions, announced by the president about a year ago, in place since a February ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen.